Kurume Institute of Technology

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Faculty of Engineering

Department of Education and Creation Engineering

Faculty of Engineering

Department of Education and Creation Engineering

The Department of Education and Creation Engineering was established in 2007 as a school for training teachers. It offers two courses: mathematics and natural science, and at most 4 teacher's certificates are available: mathematics for junior/senior high school and natural science for junior/senior high school. A decline in popularity of mathematics and natural science has been a serious world-wide problem. In order to stem the tide, the mentors train the students in these courses to obtain teaching skills based on the knowledge in engineering, and they learn modern theory of education including a leading method called "active learning". Many Education and Creation Engineering graduates go on to teach mathematics and natural science at junior and senior high schools throughout Japan.

Course

Mathematics Course

Mathematics Course

Students in the Mathematics Course will learn abstract mathematical thought from the principle by visualizing them through cases in life and nature. Emphasis is placed on understanding through observation and experience as they develop easy-to-understand teaching materials, while working toward obtaining their Type 1 Junior High/High School Teacher's Certificate,

Science Course

Science Course

Students in the Science Course will acquire abilities to obtain Type 1 junior high school/high school teacher's certificate of science.

They will develop "lessons with nature" by adopting outdoor observations and experiments and understanding each field of science (physics, chemistry, biology, geology) from a pedagogical perspective.

Students in this course will also feel the joy of teaching through creating learning materials.

Research Pick Up

Development of mathematical materials using Lego blocks

Masahiro Kanai, Professor

My laboratory is engaged in research and development of mathematical learning materials by using education version of LegoⓇ Mind Storm. Mind Storm has blocks embedded with sensors and motors along with the general Lego blocks, enabling us to create self-running robots. We are currently developing education material which reproduces "Moving Point P" which is introduced in junior high school mathematics by actually running Lego robots. The purpose of the research is to establish an education system through which we can be familiar with abstract mathematical notions.
Given that mathematics originated from practical purposes, I intend to restore its original attraction by returning to the basics.

Faculty of Engineering